Drying process for polymer crosslinked bi-continuous macro-mesoporous aerogels

Abstract

A method of drying an aerogel is disclosed. The method includes washing the aerogel in acetone, washing the aerogel in pentane, and heating the aerogel in the presence of pentane. The aerogel is removed from the pentane and the heating continues.

1 . A method of drying an aerogel comprising:
 washing the aerogel in alcohol.   washing the aerogel in acetone;   washing the aerogel in pentane;   heating the aerogel in the presence of pentane; and   removing the aerogel from the pentane and continuing the heating.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein washing in acetone comprises washing in acetone at 8 hour intervals. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein washing in pentane comprises washing in pentane at least 4 times at intervals of about 8 hours. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein heating in the presence of pentane comprises heating to about 40° C. for about 2 hours. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein fresh pentane is used for heating in the presence of pentane. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing the aerogel from the pentane and continuing the heating further comprises heating at about 40° C. for about 4 hours. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein washing the aerogel in acetone comprises washing the aerogel in a cross-linking solution comprising acetone and hexamethylene-1,6 diisocyanate. 
   
   
       8 . A method of drying a cross-linked aerogel comprising:
 washing the aerogel in pentane;   heating the aerogel in the presence of pentane; and   removing the aerogel from the pentane and continuing the heating.